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North Korea to ‘exponentially’ increase nuclear weapons stockpile, Kim says
Experts predict that by 2027, North Korea could amass enough nuclear material for 200 warheads, raising alarms about its military ambitions
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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un says the country will increase its number of nuclear weapons “exponentially”, state media KCNA reported on Tuesday.
In a speech at an event to mark the 76th anniversary of North Korea’s founding, Kim said the country must more thoroughly prepare its “nuclear capability and its readiness to use it properly at any given time in ensuring the security rights of the state”, KCNA said.
State media images showed thousands of people gathering in central Pyongyang to celebrate Monday’s founding anniversary.
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North Korea’s “nuclear force” and its ability to deploy it “should be more thoroughly perfected”, Kim said, adding that a strong military presence was needed to face “the various threats posed by the United States and its followers”.
Pyongyang “will steadily strengthen its nuclear force capable of fully coping with any threatening acts imposed by its nuclear-armed rival states”, he said.
Kim also said North Korea was facing a “grave threat” from what it said was a US-led nuclear-based military bloc in the region, adding that the country will “redouble its measures and efforts to make all the armed forces of the state, including the nuclear force, fully ready for combat”.
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